Panel control



' Filed Dec. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 6, 1951 B. LERMONT-2,543,785

PANEL CONTROL INVENTOR. BASIL LER MON T BY v HIS A TTORNEYS.

B. LERMONT PANEL CONTROL i March 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21,1946 INVENTOR. BASIL LERMONT via H/S ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 6, 1951PANEL CONTROL,

Basil Lermont, New York, N. Y., assignor to Sutton Patents, Inc., NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 21, 1946,Serial No. 717,707

Claims.

I This invention relates to devices for moving slidable panels such as,for example, window sashes, automobile windows, sliding door panels 7 2example, the device may be housed within the door or body structureadjacent the window with only the brake control lever exposed formanipuand the like. It relates particularly to devices lation to allowmovement of the window to closed for automatically moving such panels toan open position.

or a closed position while permitting easy move- The window panel may beprovided with a ment of the panel in the opposite direction by handle,preferably at its top, so that the window manual or power actuatedmechanisms. may be opened manually and will be retained An object of thepresent invention is to provide in open or partially open position bythe action a simple, compact mechanism which is easily ap- 10 of thefriction brake member. plied to a slidable panel for moving the panelThe above-described mechanism has the adin one direction by springaction. vantage of being considerably less complicated Another object ofthe invention is to provide than conventional gear-operated windowactuata compact, simple, panel control mechanism ing mechanisms; itcontains few parts that can which is free from gears or other motiontransbecome loose and rattle, as in the conventional mitting elementsthat can jam, wear, loosen or construction, and it greatly facilitatesthe operarattle. tion of the windows. 7

Other objects of the invention will become ap- For a betterunderstanding of the present inparent from the following description ofa typical vention, reference may be had to the accomform of deviceembodying the present invention. panying drawings, in which:

In accordance with the present invention, I Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a typical form have provided a panel control mechanism which ofpanel control device embodying the present in includes a coiledresilient strip of metal having vention; one end thereof supported on arotary member so 7 Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the dethat thestrip of metal can be uncoiled and exvice with a window panel and aportion of an tended into a tensioned condition. The strip of automobilebody shown in dotted lines therein; metal is provided with means on itsouter free and end for securing it to the edge of the slidable Figure 3is a view in section taken on line 3--3 panel, for example, the windowpanel of an of Figure 1 with a window closed and the panel automobile sothat, when the window is opened, shown inserted in the lower end of thestrip. the strip is uncoiled and placed under a tension The form of theinvention chosen for purposes sufficient to return the window to closedposiof illustration will be described hereinafter as tion. applied tothe window of an automobile or other Panel controls embodying thepresent invention vehicle, but it will be understood that the device mayalso be provided with a locking device, prefis applicable to many otherpurposes and conerably acting as a friction brake, to retain thestructions wherein slidable panels are required,

' panel in a desired position, this brake being resuch as, for example,in sliding doors, closures,

leasable at will in order to permit the panel to hatches, and the like.be moved to a position corresponding to the The device as shown in thedrawings may incoiled condition of the metal strip. 40 clude a platemember [0 which, as illustrated in The spring strip may belongitudinally and Figure 2, forms the base of the device and may betransversel curved and of a suitable width, desecured by means of rivetsII or other similar pending upon the strength required for movingfastening means to the interior panel l2 of an the panel element and itpreferably is supported automobile body or door. The plate or base memonits inner end on a freely rotatable shaft or 5 ber it is provided withright angularly related roller so that the strip may be uncoiled and exears or flanges l3 and M in which is mounted a tended and may resume itscoiled form without shaft or spindle l5. The shaft or spindle i5resistance. extends generally parallel to the base member Also, in thepreferred form of the device, the EB and supports a roller [6 forrotation relashaft which supports the coiled strip of metal, .50 tivelythereto.

may also supportamanually operable lever which Mounted on the roller isa resilient strip of is provided at one end with a surface of frictionmetal ll of normally coiled form which, when exmaterial adapted to en ae the panel and retain tended, is subjected to tension stresses which itin its adjusted position. normally tend to cause the strip to coil. The

In window constructions forautomobiles, for strip of metal I! may be anordinary coiled spring formed of tempered steel or the like butpreferably it is a strip of metal which has been subjected to drawingand shaping stresses in order to upset the strip into longitudinally andtransversel curved form and to stress the opposite sides of the stripunequally whereby the strip tends to coil. The tension required touncoil the spring varies, of course, with the width and/or thickness ofthe spring, and the characteristics of the spring may be modified btapering the spring in width and/ or thickness.

The inner end of the metal strip I1 is secured to the roller 16 by meansof rivets, screws or other similar fastening elements, and the outer endof the strip may be provided with a channel member is which is adaptedto receive the lower edge of a window panel [9, as illustrated in Figure3. The channel member l8 may be of spring steel or other metal so thatit grips the edge of the window panel I9 resiliently, thereby retainingthe panel firmly therein.

The width of the strip I! may be varied substantially, depending uponthe required strength of the strip. Thus, for light and easily movedpanels or closures, the strip may be relatively narrow, for example, twoto three inches in width or even less. For heavy panels requiring astrong lifting action, the width of the strip may be substantiallygreater, for example, eight to ten inches in width. The width of thestrip is immaterial so far as the appearance of the device is concernedsince, as illustrated, the entire unit may be housed within the autobody or other structure and thus is not visible.

The arrangement described above would normally tend to move the windowto a closed position and means must be provided for resisting the actionof the spring strip I! so that when the window I9 is opened it willremain open until it is released for movement toward closed position.

The mechanism for retaining the window panel in open or partially opencondition may consist of a generally L-shaped lever 20 having a releasebutton or knob 2| on one end and a braking surface 22 formed of frictionmaterial such as rubber or the like on its opposite end. As best shownin Figure 2, the friction material 22 will take the form of atransversely ribbed strip of rubber having the ribs 23 inclined inwardlyand downwardly so as to afford strong frictional resistance to upwardmovement of the window panel l9 while providing less resistance tomovement of the panel l9 downwardly when it is so displaced by means ofthe handle 24 at the upper edge of the panel. The lever 20 ispivotallysupported on the shaft l for rocking movement thereabout and isnormally biased into engagement with the window panel [9 by means ofspring member 25 having one end engaging the base plate H3 and the otherend engaging the lever 2| with loop portion 26 encircling the shaft IEto retain the spring in position. The location of the pivot point of thelever is such that the lever tends to wedge against the panel H! by thecomponents of force acting thereon when the panel is urged upwardly,thereby tending to resist movement of the panel even more strongly.

As shown in Figure 2, the lever arm 20 may extend upwardly through anopening 21 in the upper edge of the body panel so that the releasebutton is accessible for operation.

When the control mechanism is assembled with the panel as illustrated inFigure 2, the window panel l9 may be opened by grasping the handle 24and pulling or drawing the window downwardly into the body of the car.The panel slides past the friction surface 22 of the lever on the lever2| but the lever, because of the shape of the friction surface 22 andthe components of force acting thereon, will tend to lock the panelagainst upward movement. The downward movement of the panel, of course,uncoils the metal strip H from the roller [6 and places it under tensionsuch that it normally urges the panel is upwardly. If the window is tobe closed or partially closed, the release button 2! is pressed, therebymoving the friction surface 22 out of contact with the panel I9 andallowing the spring strip 11 to raise the panel I9. Upward movement ofthe panel l9 can be stopped by releasing the release button 2 I.Likewise, the window may be partially opened and retained in suchpartially-opened condition by merely pulling the panel down to thedesired position.

From the preceding description it will be apparent that I have provideda simplified window or panel control mechanism which is devoid ofgearing, racks or other mechanisms which characterize the conventionalwindow control unit. The mechanism is compact, free from parts thatwould tend to rattle or become damaged through misuse, and it can behoused completely within the supporting structure with only the controlknob or released knob exposed to view.

The device is susceptible to considerable modification in the size ofthe elements which are largely determined by the weight of the panelbeing moved. Such other modifications as attachment ofthe metallic stripdirectly to the supporting shaft l5 and change in the shape of the basemember may be made without departing from the invention. Therefore, theform of the invention described herein should be considered asillustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for actuating a closure member slidably movable in guides ina supporting structure, to cover and uncover an aperture in saidstructure, comprising a bracket member mounted adjacent the edge of saidaperture in the direction of movement of said closure member to uncoversaid aperture, a roller rotatably mounted on said bracket member, aresilient strip of metal coiled about said roller, means at the outerend of said strip for engagement with the edge of said closure memberadjacent to said bracket when said member covers said aperture, saidstrip being uncoiled as said closure member is moved to uncover saidaperture and being sufficiently stressed to move said closure member tocover said aperture when uncoiled, and a brake member movably mountedadjacent to said roller for releasable engagement with said closuremember.

2. A device for actuating a slidable closure member, comprising abracket, a roller mounted rotatably in said bracket, a normally coiledresilient strip of metal connected at one end to said roller, said stripbeing extensible by tension exerted thereon and normally tending to coilup on said roller, means at the opposite end of said strip forconnecting it to said closure member, a lever pivotally mounted on saidbracket, friction means on one end of said lever, and means biasing saidlever to engage said friction means with said closure member to retainthe latter in a desired position.

3. A Window closing device for windows having a window panel and guidesslidably receiving said panel, comprising a bracket a shaft mounted insaid bracket, a roller mounted on said shaft for rotation, a normallycoiled, resilient strip of metal having one end connected to said rollerand adapted to coil around said roller, means for securing the oppositeend of said strip to an edge portion of said panel for resilientlyurging said panel toward closed position, a lever pivotally mounted insaid shaft, friction material on one said structure adjacent to thelower edge of said aperture, means at the outer end of said strip toengage the lower edge of said closure member so that when the latter ismoved downwardly from an initially closed position, said strip isuncoiled and tensioned sufiiciently to move said closure member upwardlyto said closed position, and means for releasably retaining said closuremember in any of its open and partially open positions.

5. A device for moving a closure panel upwardly to close an aperture ina supporting structure, comprising a resilient, normally coiled springof substantial width, means at the outer end of said spring forconnecting it to the lower edge of said panel, a member rotatablymounted adjacent to said lower edge of said aperture and connected tothe inner end of said spring, said member being so located that saidspring is at least partially uncoiled 'when said panel is displaceddownwardly from closed position and is stressed suificiently to movesaid panel upwardly toward said closed position, and brake means mountedon said supporting structure adjacent to said panel for releasablyretaining said panel against movement by said spring to closed position.

BASIL LERMONT.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of recordin the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,006,264 OLeary Oct. 17, 19111,646,218 Roethel Oct. 18, 1927 1,670,595 Plummer May 22, 1928 1,745,578Kreissig Feb. 4, 1930

